European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience

European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience ISSN: 2321-9122; Impact Factor: RJIF 5.44 Received: 26-01-2020; Accepted: 13-02-2020; Published: 27-02-2020 www.biosciencejournals.com Volume 8; Issue 2; 2020; Page No. 43-49

Flora of wetlands in wildlife and bird sanctuary, district,

Padma Sorna Subramanian M1, Saravana Ganthi A2, Subramonian K3 1 Siddha Medicinal Garden, CCRS, Mettur Dam, Salem, Tamil Nadu, 2 PG Department of Botany, Rani Anna Govt. College for Women, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India 3 Department of Botany, The M.D.T Hindu College, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract Wetlands in India are distributed in different geographical regions ranging from Himalayas to Deccan plateau. The variability in climatic conditions and changing topography is responsible for significant diversity. Coastal wetlands include littoral zones, brackish water and estuarine regions, lagoons and coral reefs, and constitute ~ 70% of total wetlands of the country. The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty, which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. In the present study, an attempt has been made to highlight the diverse floral resources and distribution of vegetation types in wetlands of Point Calimere, , Tamil Nadu. Exploratory surveys involving field visits and literature review were carried out to find out the present status of wetlands during 2008 – 2009. About 147 plant species of 110 genera belonging to 55 families are described.

Keywords: conservation, flora, point calimere, wetlands

Introduction of Tanjore of Tamil Nadu before bifurcation. Point Calimere Wetlands landscape feature fopund all parts of the world. wildlife sanctuary created in 1967 for conservation of black They are known as “kidneys of the landscape” and buck. It is an endangered and endemic species of India. In “Ecological supermarkets”. Wetlands are one of the most 1988, the sanctuary expanded with the inclusion of Great productive ecosystems on the Earth (Ghermandi et al., Swamp and the Talaignayar Reserve Forest 2008) [12]. It provides numerous valuable pservices to human and renamed the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird society (ten Brink et al., 2012) [27]. Wetlands are considered Sanctuary, with a total area of 377 km². The vast swampy to have unique ecological features which provide several tract of Point Calimere is one of India’s greatest avian products and services to humanity (Prasad et al., 2002) [23]. habitats. Point Calimere encompasses sandy coast fringed Worldwide the areal area of wetland ecosystems ranges by saline swamps and thorny scrub around the backwaters. from 917 million hectares (m ha) (Lehner and Döll, 2004) Ramar Padam, Modimandapam and old Chola light house [16] to more than 1275 m ha (Finlayson and Spiers, 1999) [10] are the important historical places located in the sanctuary. with an estimated economic worth of about US$ 15 trillion a The biodiversity consists of tropical evergreen forests, year (MEA, 2005) [18]. India, with its unreliable topography luxuriant , salt marsh to grasslands. The and climatic regimes, supports diverse and unique wetland sanctuary has been recognized as a very important wetland habitats (Prasad et al., 2002) [23]. As per the estimates, India for the migratory waterfowl which has been included in the has about 757.06 thousand wetlands with a total wetland Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International importance) during area of 15.3 m ha, accounting for nearly 4.7% of the total 2002 (Ramsar site no. 1210 dated 18.08.2002) (Ecology of geographical area of the country. Out of this, area under Point Calimere Sanctuary, 1991; Atlas of inland wetlands accounts for 69%, coastal wetlands 27%, Wetlands of India, 2002) [9] [3]. and other wetlands (smaller than 2.25 ha) 4% (SAC, 2011) [26]. Methodology The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty, The source of materials for this floristic research was the which provides the framework for national action and extensive field collections of specimens made from the area international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of study during the period from Apr. 2010 to June. 2011. of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 127 During the course of this study 14 field trips were contracting parties to the Convention, with 1085 wetland undertaken. Standard methodology was used to elicit the sites, totalling 82.2 million hectares, designated for knowledge of wetland plants. All the relevant information of inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of international each wetland plants was recorded. The plants specimens importance. In the present study, an attempt has been made collected were processed and preserved in the form of to highlight the diverse floral resources in the Ramsar listed Herbarium at the Survey of Medicinal Plants Unit – Siddha wetland of Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, [CCRS], Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu. and identified with the help of available literature. The identification of plants was done referring the Mathew Area of Study [1983 -1988] [17], Nair and Henry (1983) [20] and Gamble and The area of study Point Calimere falls under the Fischer [1915 – 1936] [11]. For collect information about the Nagapattinam district and it was under the erstwhile district medical uses standard references (Daniel and

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Umamaheswari, 2001; Yognarasiman, 2000) [7] [31] were continually or at high tides (Duke, 1992) [8]. Mangroves are referred. Information on nomenclature and family was taken well known for their apparently dense network of woody from an online botanical database The Plant List – version vegetation and their exclusive adaptations to the double 1.1 (2013) [28]. The plants were arranged based on APG IV stresses of flooding and salinity (Mitsch and Gosselink. classification. 2000) [19]. The plants distributed near old light house are mostly halophytic (mangrove) in nature and this may be due Results and Discussion to the presence of high content of chloride, sulphate, The Point Calimere Reserve forest extends to an area of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium in water. The 5663 hectares of flat land, having slight slopes, with dominant halophytes in this area are Excoecaria agallocha consolidated and shifting sand dunes along with salt L., Aegiceras corniculatum [L.] Blanco, Tamarix troupii marshes which are inundated by the tides and monsoonal Hole and Lumnitzera racemosa Willd. They store water and showers causes variation in the salinity of the margins of the mucilage. Leaves are usually leathery, fleshy and shining. elevated inlets. The vegetation varies with different habitats Eichhornia crassipes is a free floating hydrophyte, typically such as foreshore sandy, inland sandy, salt marsh, float on water surface with extensive root system. Nelumbo mangrove, sand dune and woody scrub jungles. The reserve nucifera and Nymphaea pubescens were the rooted has two main water storage units such as Munniyapan Lake macrophytes with floating leaves present in the study area. and Nandupallam. Fresh water of potable quality has been Aeschynomene indica, Ammannia baccifera, Ammannia available at quite a few spots in natural ponds and manmade octandra, Aponogeton natans, Cyperus iria, Cyperus water holes, as claimed by the natives. difformis, Hygrophila auriculata, Ipomoea aquatica, Limnophila heterophylla, Limnophila indica, Ludwigia Species diversity perennis, Sphaeranthus indicus, Point Calimere is a coastal wetland. Point calimer wetland is Typha domingensis, Utricularia bifida are amphibious spanning a continuum from salt to fresh water; these include hydrophytes, in which aerial parts are with mesophytic mangroves, salt marshes and freshwater marshes. During the characters and the submerged parts shows true hydrophytic present field work 158 angiosperm species were recorded in characters. Many of these thrive well even after the the Point Calimere sanctuary. They belong to 110 genera substratum is considerably dried up. In Ottelia alismoides, distributed in 61families. In dicots 110 species are Vallisneria natans and Monochoria vaginalis the foliage is representing 46 families. Among the dicots, family entirely submerged, conduct with soil or rock but their Amaranthceae is the most dominant family with 10 species reproductive parts are raised slightly above the water level. and followed by Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae with Marshy Vegetation are also known as ‘border line’ plants, 8 species each. In Monocot 48 species are representing 15 occur on the edges of the water bodies. The common families. Highest number of species recorded in the family marshy and wetland plant includes, Alternanthera sessilis, Cyperaceae (16). The second largest family is Poaceae with Bacopa monnieri, Basilicum polystachyon, Centella 13 species. Two species of Pteridophytes and one species of asiatica, Commelina benghalensis, Cynodon dactylon, Bryophyte are also recorded in the area of study. On the Echinochloa colona, Eriocaulon quinquangulare, Cyperus whole there are 33 Angiospermic monospecific families, of rotundus,, C. bulbosus, C. pygmaeus, C. squarrosus, which 22 are dicots and 11 monocots. Based on the quality Iphigenia indica, Queenslandiella hyaline, Lindernia of the water samples, the type of vegetation also varies in antipoda, L.crustacean, L. hyssopoides, L. fugax, the present study. Eight families namely, Aizoaceae, Nothosaerva brachiata, Phyla nodiflora, Portulaca Cleomaceae, Combretaceae, Droseraceae, Gentianaceae, oleracea, P. pilosa, Pouzolzia zeylanica, Scoparia dulcis, Hydrocharitaceae, Molluginaceae and Ponteridaceae were Cyanotis axillaris, C. cucullata, Drosera burmannii and D. represented by two species each. indica. The quality of the water exhibits different characteristics in Nalla thaneerkulam when compare to other places, so the Endemic plants fresh water vegetation such as Salacia chinensis, Canavalia Indian flora has about 17,000 species of which 5725 are virosa, Ficus spp., Marsilea, are found common around this endemic and belong to 140 genera (Nayar, 1997) [21]. area. Many annual and perennial seeds germinate during or Peninsular India has 2015 species distributed in 600 genera after rainy season when the concentration of salts is (Ahmeddullah and Nayar, 1987) [1]. The endemic status has somewhat lower. Fimbristylis ferruginea, Aeluropus been derived based on the literature available in Flora of lagopoides and Eremopogon foveolatus are common in the Gulf of Mannar (Daniel and Umamaheshwari, 2001) [7]. salt marshes. The partial stem parasite represented by one Species such as Cynotis cucullata is the common peninsular species (Dendrophthoe falcata) and their host range include endemics recorded in the present study. The study reported Excoecaria agallocha, Lumnitzera racemosa etc. Aegiceras corniculatus is exclusively insular. The flora of Centranthera tranquebarica, Fimbristylis argentea the region has close affinity with that of . The Indo Eragrostiella bifaria and Trachys muricata are common in - Sri Lankan species are Geniosporum tenuiflorum, Leucas wet sandy soil. Insectivorous plants obtain their nitrogen by biflora, Polygala rosmarinifolia, Sansvieria roxburghiana, assimilating the insects by specialized structures. There are Sopubia delphinifolia and Terminalia arjuna. three species recorded in the study area. They are Drosera burmannii, D. indica and Utricularia bifida. Diversity of grasses and sedges Globally, it is estimated that in-between 16 and 18 million In an aquatic ecosystem, the dominant vegetation is hectares coastal land covered by the mangrove forest monocots with more species diversity in contrast to (Valiela et al., 2001) [29]. Mangroves are located in the terrestrial habitats. Sedges and grasses dominate the study intertidal zones and estuarine margins with trees, shrubs, are with 16 and 13 species respectively. Aeluropus and other plants that have adapted to living in saline waters, lagopoides inhabits damp, saline soil on the fringes of salt

44 European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience www.biosciencejournals.com marshes. It survives at high-salinity habitats. The plant itself global sediment and nutrient budgets is much greater than has a very low salt content and it is able to expel the salt, it their proportional surface area on earth would suggest gains from the highly saline soil, through glands on the (Schlesinger, 1997) [24]. Wetlands are 75% more valuable in leaves [31]. Sedges and grasses also occupy a very important terms of ecosystem services than lakes and rivers, 15 times ecological role in communities where they are native. They more valuable than forests, and 64 times more valuable than are food plants, shelter plants, and soil stabilizers. They can grassland or rangelands (Constanza et al., 1997) [6]. Riparian even serve as a growth surface for other plant species. Many wetlands occur as ecotones or interfaces between aquatic different kinds of birds will nest in and around grasses and and upland ecosystems, have distinct vegetation and soil sedges as well. Some species are pivotal in the succession of characteristics (Johnson et al., 1979; Gregoty et al., 1991) different habitat types. [15] [14], and perform important functions at the watershed scale (Brinson et al., 1981) [5]. Life forms Point Calimere is an area of high biodiversity, with many Trees and shrubs are generally sparse with vegetation unique species of animals and birds. Point Calimere mainly consisting of herbs. During the study two climbers, Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary [PCWBS] is inhabited by 14 seven each trees and twiners, eleven shrubs and 131 herbs mammal species, 18 reptile species and 9 amphibian were recorded. In Cardiospermum lower portion of the species. The Flagship species of the sanctuary is Near inflorescence is modified into tendril. Coccinia grandis Threatened Blackbuck antelope, the sole member of the tendril arises from the axil of the leaf. Geophytes were Antilope family in India and the most numerous large defined by Raunkiaer (1934) as plants with an underground animals in the sanctuary. It has the largest population of perennation organ (bulb, corm, tuber, or rhizome) and Blackbuck in South India. This site has recorded the 2nd leaves that die back annually (Serban et al., 2006) [25]. largest congregation of migratory water birds in India, with Typha domingensis, Chloris barbata, Cyperus procerus, a peak population in excess of 100,000, representing 103 Nelumbo nucifera, Nymphaea pubescens, Canna indica, species [Barauah, 2005] [4]. Point Calimere wild life Musa paradisiaca, Fimbristylis triflora, Sesuvium sanctuary is listed an Important Bird Area [IBA] for India. portulacastrum, Aeluropus lagopoides, are rhizomatous This is because it contains about 110 species of water birds, perennial plants of the study area. Coccinia grandis, Ruellia of which 34 are winter migrants. Wetland supports tuberosa, Iphigenia indica, Cyanotis tuberosa, congregation of large number of migratory and resident Chlorophytum tuberosum Theriophonum minutum, Cyperus species of birds as it has high nutritional value as well as rotundus and Aponogeton natans is the common tuberous productivity [Whittaker and Likens 1973; Gibbs 1993; plant distributed in wetlands. Cynodon dactylon spreads by Paracuellos 2006] [30] [12] [22]. As per Ali and Ripley [1983] scaly rhizomes and flat stolons to form a dense mat. One [2], 273 species of birds in India can be considered as bulbous geophyte Cyperus bulbosus also found along the waterfowls, the birds that depend on wetland ecosystem. margin of the water bodies. Cyperus procerus is Point calimere wetland area provide important habitat for stoloniferous. waterbirds. Many species depend on these wetlands for feeding, breeding and as a place to refuel and rest during Economic importance migrations. Cyperus procerus culms are also used as a source of material for weaving mats [29]. Typha leaves are plaited into ropes and mats. Cyperus iria culms are woven into mats. Cyperus rotundus dried roots are aromatic, used in perfumes and incense sticks. Eragrostiella bifaria dried inflorescence is used in making bouquets. Many grasses and sedges are widely used as fodder eg., Cynodon dactylon, Dactyloctenium aegyptium Chloris barbata Eragrostiella bifaria etc. The fruits are used as vegetables in Coccinia grandis and Canavalia cathartica. The leaf of Alternanthera sessilis, Celosia argentea, Centella asiatica and Sauropus bacciformis used as vegetable. Leaf of Eclipta prostrata is used in preparation of hair oil. Fruits of Musa paradisiaca and Limonia acidissima are edible. Stilt root of Pandanus odorifer used in preparation of country brush. Nelumbo nucifera rhizomes are consumed after roasting, while dried slices are utilized in curry, as chips or as pickles. Source: District Forest Office, Nagapattinam Discussion Coastal wetlands provide a critical interface between Map 1: Land cover map showing various sites in Point Calimere terrestrial and marine environments. Their importance to

Table 1: List of plant species recorded in the Point Calimere wet lands, Tamil Nadu

S.no. Botanical Name Family Habit Tamil Name Uses 1. Acalypha ciliata Forssk. Euphorbiaceae Herb - - 2. Acalypha indica L. Euphorbiaceae Herb Kuppaimeni Medicinal 3. Acanthospermum hispidum DC. Asteraceae Herb Kadle mullu - 4. Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae Herb Nayurivi Medicinal

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5. Aegiceras corniculatum [L.]Blanco Primulaceae Shrub Narikandal Medicinal 6. Aerva lanata [L.] Juss. ex Schult Amaranthaceae Herb Peelai, sirupeelai Medicinal 7. Aeschynomene indica L. Fabaceae Herb - - 8. Allmania nodiflora [L.] R. Br. ex Wight Amaranthaceae Herb Vallikeerai Leaf vegetable 9. Alternanthera pungens Kunth Amaranthaceae Herb - Medicinal 10. Alternanthera sessilis [L.] R. Br. ex DC Amaranthaceae Herb Ponnankanni Leaf vegetable 11. Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites Poaceae Herb Kadal Arugampullu Soil binder 12. Alysicarpus bupleurifolius [L.] DC. Fabaceae Herb - - 13. Alysicarpus monilifer [L.] DC. Fabaceae Herb Kasukkoti - 14. Alysicarpus vaginalis [L.] DC. Fabaceae Herb Kuranthaidakki - 15. Amaranthus roxburghianus Nevski Amaranthaceae Herb - - 16. Amaranthus spinosus L. Amaranthaceae Herb Mullukkeerai .. Medicinal 17. Ammannia baccifera L. Lythraceae Herb Neermel-neruppu Medicinal 18. Ammannia octandra L. f. Lythraceae Herb - - 19. Aponogeton natans [L.] Engl. & Krause Aponogetaceae Herb Kotti vitlaan kizhangu Medicinal 20. Avicennia officinalis L. Acanthaceae Tree Uppattam Medicinal 21. Bacopa monnieri [L.] Pennell Plantaginaceae Herb Neerbrahmi Medicinal 22. Basilicum polystachyon [L.] Lamiaceae Herb Sannaki poondu Medicinal 23. Biophytum sensitivum [L.] DC. Oxalidaceae Herb Jala puspam Medicinal 24. Canavalia cathartica Thouars Fabaceae Twiner Kattuttambattan Fruit vegetable 25. Canna indica L. Cannaceae Shrub Kalvazhai, Ornamental 26. Canscora crustaceans [L.] Gilg. Gentianaceae Herb - - 27. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Sapindaceae Climber Mudakotthan Medicinal 28. Celosia argentea L. Amaranthaceae Herb Pannai keerai Leaf vegetable Orukkadaiththoyyak Celosia polygonoides Retz. Amranthaceae Herb - 29. keerai . 30. Centella asiatica [L.] Urb. Apiaceae Herb Vallarai Leaf vegetable 31. Centranthera tranquebarica [Spreng.] Merr. Orobanchaceae Herb - -- 32. Chloris barbata Sw. Poaceae Herb Kodaipullu Fodder 33. Chlorophytum tuberosum [Roxb.] Baker Asparagaceae Herb Vaipuruthi Medicinal 34. Cleome chelidonii L. f. Cleomaceae Herb - - 35. Cleome gynandra L. Cleomaceae Herb Nal vaelai Medicinal 36. Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt. Cucurbitaceae Climber Kovai Medicinal 37. Commelina benghalensis L. Commelinaceae Herb Kanaangozhai Medicinal 38. Corchorus aestuans L. Malvaceae Herb Kattuttuti - 39. Corchorus fascicularis Lam. Malvaceae Herb Punaku, peratti .. - 40. Corchorus tridens L. Malvaceae Herb - Fibre 41. Corchorus urticifolius Wight & Arn. Malvaceae Herb - - 42. Cyanotis arcotensis R.S. Rao Commelinaceae Herb - - 43. Cyanotis axillaris (L.) D.Don ex Sweet Commelinaceae Herb - - 44. Cyanotis cucullata (Roth) Kunth Commelinaceae Herb - - 45. Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. Poaceae Herb Arugam pullu Medicinal, soil binder 46. Cyperus arenarius Retz. Cyperaceae Herb - - 47. Cyperus bulbosus Vahl. Cyperaceae Herb Silanthi - 48. Cyperus difformis L. Cyperaceae Herb Vattakorai - 49. Cyperus exaltatus Retz. Cyperaceae Herb - - 50. Cyperus iria L. Cyperaceae Herb Yanaikkitti, oosikorai Culms woven into mats 51. Cyperus procerus Rottb. Cyperaceae Herb Mattakorai - 52. Cyperus pygmaeus Rottb. Cyperaceae Herb - - Medicinal, dried root used in Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae Herb Koraikilangu 53. perfume, incence sticks 54. Cyperus squarrosus L. Cyperaceae Herb - - 55. Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd. Poaceae Herb Kakkakalpul - 56. Dendrophthoe falcata (L. f.) Etting. Loranthaceae Herb Pulluruvi - 57. Dichanthium foveolatum (Delile) Roberty Poaceae Herb - - 58. Drosera burmannii Vahl Droseraceae Herb Azhukanni . - 59. Drosera indica L. Droseraceae Herb - - Kudiravalli pullu, Rail Echinochloa colona (L.) Link Poaceae Herb Fodder 60. pullu

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61. Eclipta prostrata [L.] L. Asteraceae Herb Vellai karisalakanni Hair oil preparation 62. Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms Ponteridiaceae Herb Venkayattamarai - 63. Emilia sonchifolia [L.] DC. Astereceae Herb Muyalccevi Medicinal 64. Enicostema axillare [Lam.] Raynal Gentianaceae Herb Vellarugu Medicinal 65. Eremopogon foveolatus (Delile) Stapf. Poaceae Herb - Soil binder 66. Epaltes divaricata [L.] Cass. Asteraceae Herb -- - Dried inflorescence is used in Eragrostiella bifaria [Vahl] Bor Poaceae Herb - 67. making bouquets. 68. Eragrostis japonica [Thunb.] Trin. Poaceae Herb Kanjirapul - 69. Eriocaulon quinquangulare L Eriocaulaceae Herb - - 70. Excoecaria agallocha L. Euphorbiaceae Tree Tillai, Amballath Medicinal 71. Ficus hispida L Moraceae Tree Kattu athith, Peyatti - 72. Fimbristylis argentea [Rottb.] Vahl Cyperaceae Herb - - 73. Fimbristylis ferruginea [L.] Vahl Cyperaceae Herb - - 74. Fimbristylis polytrichoides [Retz.] R. Br. Cyperaceae Herb - - 75. Fimbristylis triflora [L.] K. Schum. ex Engl. Cyperaceae Herb - - 76. Geniosporum tenuiflorum [L.] Merr. Lamiaceae Herb Nalla thulasi Medicinal 77. Gisekia pharnaceoides L. Gisekiaceae) Herb Kokilikkirai, Medicinal 78. Glinus lotoides L. Molluginaceae Herb Ceruppatai Medicinal 79. Glinus oppositifolius L. Molluginaceae Herb Thura poondu - 80. Hackelochloa granularis [L.] Kuntze Poaceae Herb - - 81. Halopyrum mucronatum [L.] Stapf. Poaceae Herb - - 82. Heliotropium curassavicum L. Boraginaceae Herb - - 83. Hybanthus enneaspermus [L.] F. Muell. Violaceae Herb Orilai thamarai Medicinal 84. Hygrophila auriculata (Schumach.) Heine Acanthaceae Herb Neermulli Medicinal 85. Hyptis suaveolens [L.] Poir. Lamiaceae Herb - Medicinal 86. Indigofera linnaei Ali Fabaceae Herb Sheppunerunji - 87. Iphigenia indica [L.] A. Gray ex Kunth Colchicaceae Herb Neerpanai - 88. Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. Convolvulaceae Twiner Vallai-k-kirai,. - 89. Ipomoea carnea Jacq. Convolvulaceae Shrub Neyveli kattamanakku - 90. Ipomoea obscura [L.] Ker. Convolvulaceae Twiner Chirudalli,. Siruthaali,. - 91. Ledebouria revoluta (L.f.) Jessop Aspargaceae Habit Narivengayam - 92. Leucas aspera [Willd.] Link Lamiaceae Herb Thumbai Medicinal 93. Leucas biflora [Vahl] R.Br. Lamiaceae Herb - - 94. Limnophila heterophylla [Roxb.] Benth. Plantaginaceae Herb - - 95. Limnophila indica [L.] Druce, Plantaginaceae Herb - - 96. Limonia acidissima L. Rutaceae Tree Vilam palam - 97. Lindernia antipoda [L.] Alston Linderniaceae Herb Thanneer poondu - 98. Lindernia crustacea [L.] F. Muell. Linderniaceae Herb - - 99. Lindernia hyssopoides [L.] Haines Linderniaceae Herb - - 100. Lindernia fugax R.G.N. Young Linderniaceae Herb - - 101. Lipocarpha squarrosa (L.) Goetgh. Cyperaceae Herb - - 102. Ludwigia perennis L. Onagraceae Herb Musalkathilai - 103. Lumnitzera racemosa Willd. Combretaceae Tree Tipparathai. - 104. Melochia corchorifolia L. Malvaceae Herb Punnakku poondu - 105. Mimosa pudica L. Mimosaceae Herb Thotaal surungi - 106. Monochoria vaginalis [Burm.f.] Presl, Ponteridaceae Herb Karu-n-kuvalai - 107. Musa paradisiaca L. Musaceae Tree Vaalazhi Fruit edible 108. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Nelumbonaceae Herb Tamarai, Medicinal Nesaea lanceolata [Heyne ex C.B. Clarke] Lytharaceae Herb -- - 109. Koehne 110. Nothosaerva brachiata [L.] Wight Amaranthaceae Herb - - 111. Nymphaea pubescens Willd. Nymphaeaceae Herb Vellambal Medicinal 112. Ocimum filamentosum Forssk. Lamiaceae Herb - - 113. Oldenlandia biflora L. Rubiaceae Herb - - 114. Osbeckia decandra (Sm.) DC. Melastomataceae - - 115. Ottelia alismoides [L.] Pers. Hydrocharitaceae Herb Nirkkuliri - 116. Pandanus odorifer (Forssk.) Kuntze Pandanaceae Shrub Thazhambu Flower

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Phrymaceae Peplidium maritimum [L. f.] F. Asch Herb - - 117. 118. Perotis indica [L.] Kuntze Poaceae Herb Narivalpullu 119. Phyla nodiflora [L.] Greene Verbanaceae Herb Poduthalai Medicinal 120. Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. Phyllanthaceae Herb Keezhanelli Medicinal 121. Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. Phyllanthaceae Shrub Civappu-p-pula, Medicinal 122. Phyllanthus rotundifolius Klein ex Willd. Phyllanthaceae Herb - Medicinal 123. Physalis minima L. Malvaceae Herb Tholtakkali - 124. Polygala bulbothrix Dunn Polygalaceae Herb - - 125. Polygala javana DC. Polygalaceae Herb Selagachedi Medicinal 126. Polygala rosmarinifolia Wight & Arn. Polygalaceae Herb - - 127. Portulaca oleracea L. Portulaceae Herb Paruppu keerai Leaf vegetable 128. Portulaca pilosa L. Portulaceae Herb Mukkuli keerai, - 129. Portulaca quadrifida L. Portulaceae Herb Pasalai keerai - 130. Pouzolzia zeylanica [L.] Benn. Ueticaceae Herb Nir-c-cinni . Medicinal 131. Premna serratifolia L Lamiaceae Shrub Munnai, Medicinal 132. Queenslandiella hyalina (Vahl) Ballard Cyperaceae Herb Velutta nirbasi - 133. Rhynchospora colorata (L.) H.Pfeiff. Cyperaceae Herb Oosikorai - 134. Ruellia tuberosa L. Acanthaceae Herb Pattaskai - 135. Salacia chinensis L. Celastraceae Shrub Pon korandi Medicinal Small Salvadora persica L. Salvodaraceae Peru-vila Medicinal 136. tree 137. Sauropus bacciformis [L.] Airy Shaw Phyllanthaceae Shrub Thavasi murunggai Lead vegetable 138. Scoparia dulcis L. Plantaginaceae Herb Sarakkotthini Medicinal 139. Sesuvium portulacastrum [L.] L. Aizoaceae Herb Vallaikkirai, . Medicinal 140. Sphaeranthus indicus L. Asteraceae Herb Kottai Karanthai Medicinal Mudiyan Synedrella nodiflora [L.] Gaertn, Asteraceae Herb Medicinal 141. Achchai 142. Tamarix indica Willd. Tamaricacea Tree - - 143. Teramnus labialis [L. f.] Spreng. Fabaceae Twiner Kattu-Ulandu - Terminalia arjuna [Roxb. ex DC.] Wight & Combretaceae Tree Marutu Medicinal 144. Arn. 145. Theriophonum minutum [Willd.] Baillion Araceae Herb - Medicinal 146. Trachy s muricata [L.] Pers. ex Trin. Poaceae Herb Vennai thirati pul - 147. Tragia involucrata L. Euphorbiaceae Twiner Kanchori Medicinal 148. Trianthema portulacastrum L. Aizoceae Herb Sharunnai Medicinal 149. Tridax procumbens L. Asteraceae Herb Vettukkaaya-Thalai Medicinal 150. Tylophora indica [Burm. F] Merr. Apocynaceae Twiner Nancharuppan Medicinal 151. Typha domingensis Pers. Typhaceae Herb Sambu Rope and mats making 152. Utricularia bifida L. Lentibulariaceae Herb - - 153. Vallisneria natans [Lour.] Hara Hydrocharitaceae Herb - Fish food 154. Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less Asteraceae Herb Naichotte Poondu Medicinal 155. Viola betonicifolia J.E. Smith Violaceae Herb - - 156. Volkameria inermis L. Lamiaceae Shrub Pinarichanganguppu Medicinal 157. Waltheria indica L. Malvaceae Shrub - Medicinal 158. Zornia diphylla [L.] Pers.` Fabaceae Twiner Chirupalatai. -

measures to manage wetlands and coastal areas which are being used by 310 species of migratory birds s their habitats Conservation in several states having wetlands and coast areas. India is one of the favorite destinations of migratory birds. India has come out with a five-year national action plan to Acknowledgement conserve the habitats of these migratory birds. The action The authors are thankful to the Dr. K. Natarajan, Former plan spanning 2018-23, brought out by the Union Head, Department of Botany, St. Xavier’s College environment ministry, is meant for coordinated actions [Autonomous], Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu for among states for securing and enhancing population of providing the required facilities for completion of the work. migratory birds in India within their range across the Central Asian Flyway. The National Action Plan (NAP) lays down a References range of actions at national, state and local levels with 1. Ahmedullah M, Nayar MP. Endemic Plants of the overall longer-term goal to arrest population decline and Indian Regions. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. secure habitats of migratory bird species. It includes 1987.

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